Editorial: College administration could do more to balance cuts

Gov. Rick Snyder has called for “shared sacrifice.” So far, the only sharing we see is shared criticism of the governor’s proposed budget cuts. Looking at a new analysis, however, university administrators might want to lower their voices. They can probably afford a pay cut more than most.

Fresh reporting from The Detroit Free Press shows that spending on Michigan’s university administrators has climbed by 30 percent in the last five years. This, of course, came as college presidents were crying poverty and raising tuition and fees for students. These universities offer some explanation, saying they need to spend money to attract talented leaders or to open new programs. Outside research dollars sometimes pay these positions’ salaries, too.

Frankly, that rings hollow. The inflation of administrators’ pay and ranks strikes us as consistent with a university system that has done too little belt-tightening in recent years. Mostly, these schools have turned to students (and their parents) to cover the bills rather than making the hard choices as many businesses and households have done.

Snyder wants to cut state spending on universities by 15 percent. Let’s see if administrators can live with less. Then, they’d be really earning their pay.